Lansing sinks Chieftains, 1-0

It's even rougher when it's your biggest rival, and you lose because of a penalty kick.

A Chieftain player was called for a handball violation in the goal box, and Lansing (7-6) received a penalty kick in the 76th minute. Luke Brown nearly stopped the free kick, but the goal was the difference, as THS couldn't convert in the last four minutes on the road.

Lansing's narrow win dropped Tonganoxie, leaving the Chieftains without a win against their rival this season, and a 4-7-1 record.

The loss is part of a two-game skid. The Chieftains fell to Ottawa 4-0 Oct. 1 as well.

"They were a decent team and had some good speed on the front side," THS coach Harold Pittman said. "But really, we didn't play up to our potential. We had some chances early to score and we didn't.

"It was just our lack of keeping the guys marked."

The Cyclones had two goals in the first half and another two in the second. Tonganoxie actually outshot Ottawa, 15-14, but the 'Clones were more accurate. THS was more aggressive in the second half. After three shots on goal in the first, the Chieftains had 12 in the second stanza. Luke Brown had eight saves for THS, compared to Lansing's nine.

The opportunity for corner kicks was the major disadvantage. Ottawa had eight, while Tonganoxie had just one.

"They weren't giving much over their own end line," Pittman said."

THS won't have an easy road to finish out the season. After playing Immaculata next Monday, the team heads to De Soto on Oct. 17. After that, they take on Kansas City Christian, last year's 4-1A runner-up, Sept. 21.

A makeup game Tuesday evening against Basehor-Linwood didn't make The Mirror's deadline, but will appear in next weeks' edition.

Tuesday afternoon, Pittman was hopeful his team would respond to Monday's disappointment.

"I'm hoping it will drive them to take it to the next team," Pittman said. "That what I'm planning on."